For the first time in more than a year, the Omaha Barristers’ Club held its first in-person event last week at Hanscom Park.

The annual Steak Fry, sponsored by The Daily Record, was the first opportunity for many attorneys in attendance to socialize with their peers since the start of the pandemic.

“It feels like old times,” Omaha attorney Michael Stageman said. “It’s nice, seeing old faces, everyone getting together. We’re all on the same team here and it just feels good that everyone can just hang out and have a good time.”

More than 100 members of the legal community came together for an evening of steaks, brats and beverages.

“After a year and a half off, it’s been great to get people out,” Barristers’ Club President Doug Amen said. “I think people are excited to get together again and see people they either don’t work with or don’t get to hang out with socially. I’m very excited about the turnout.”

The present and future of the Omaha Bar Association collided over the hot coals as the outgoing OBA president Dave Koukol and the incoming president Judge Stephanie Hansen teamed up to tend to the grill.

Koukol said he was happy to spend time with his fellow attorneys after a year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It feels good,” Koukol said. “And I’m glad to see that things are opening up and we are ready to move forward.”

Daily Record Publisher Jason Huff used the opportunity to take a measure of the local legal community and solicit ideas for future social gatherings.

“I’m really happy to have an event like this again, to meet everybody again,” Huff said.

The Barristers’ Club’s next scheduled event is its annual softball game on Aug. 19. The Barristers’ Club annual Christmas Show is scheduled for Dec. 9 at the Paxton.